Unlike
other religions, Islam rejects the concept of celibacy to seek the pleasure
of God. Islam considers marriage as a religious act that is necessary for
establishing a responsible, just and stable society.

Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) has equated practicing marriage to perfecting half
the religion.

In Islam, marriage is not seen as only a vehicle
for the fulfillment of physical needs, it is taken as a foundation for a caring
society built upon love and affection.

Islam
attaches equal responsibilities to both partners in marriage.

Polygamy
is not a requirement or recommendation for Muslim men and is only a conditional
exception.

Islam
forbids physical intimacy without marriage. It leads to the eradication of many
social evils prevalent in societies that have marginalized the institution of
marriage. Islam allows men to have more than one wife, only with quite
stringent conditions and gives preference to having one wife.

Raising
of this issue by the West seems quite hypocritical because a significant majority
of their population practices polygamous relationships with a multitude of partners
either without or outside marriage, shunning commitments and responsibilities
towards them, in most cases.

Polygamy
was a usual practice throughout the biblical period. Most Messengers of God like,
Abraham, David, Solomon and Jacob etc. (Peace be upon them)
all had more than one wives.